Children collect frozen juice treats from a freezer next to a display of fresh fruits and vegetables at the official opening of the Southside Market Corner Store’s “Healthy in a Hurry” market Thursday, June 11, 2015, on West 38th Street in Chattanooga, Tenn.Stores sought for healthy food program
The remaining three stores haven’t been identified yet. But if you’re a corner store owner and are interested in the healthy corner store initiative email Bill Rush at brush@ymcachattanooga.org.
Heartfelt hugs and handshakes surrounded Mahmood Abdullah as people gathered to celebrate the Southside Market Corner Store becoming the first of four healthy corner markets planned to open within a year in underserved communities.
“We need to push the people to eat healthy,” Abdullah said during the celebration.
Some store owners complain that they can’t sell fresh fruit and veggies at a price that produces profit, but after eight weeks of operation, the produce in Abdullah’s store shows a surplus over its expense, said Bill Rush, of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga.
The produce comes from a partnership with the YMCA that stocks the Southside Market with the same fruit and vegetables as the Mobile Market that trundles around inner-city neighborhoods.
The YMCA will assist Abdullah for three years by introducing him to produce suppliers and training his staff on pricing and handling produce. The goal is to get him ready to operate the produce stand on his own within a year, Rush said. But the YMCA will continue to support him for an additional two years.
Rush said he doesn’t know of another corner store in Alton Park offering fresh fruits and vegetables.
The Hamilton County Health Department named Alton Park one of several urban food deserts in the city, a designation for communities that don’t have easy access to food. A full-service grocery sits just outside the community, but many Alton Park residents don’t have cars, so they shop at convenience stores within walking distance.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released a report in 2010 stating that 71 percent of adults living on Chattanooga’s south and east sides are overweight or obese. About 15 percent suffer with diabetes and 43 percent have high cholesterol.
Larry “Bear” High, owner of Bear’s Barbershop, was among dozens of people congratulating Abdullah on his store’s expanded service.
“I’m just glad to see another black business open up outside of being a beer joint. It’s something that the community needs and I’m just so proud of him,” he said.
City officials and even classmates came to congratulate him, and Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey spoke.
“Abdullah is not only providing a needed service for this community, but he’s an inspiration,” Mackey said. “Here’s a man who emerged out of this community and in his striving for success, he’s bringing kids along with him.”
Rosemary Porter lives in the Villages at Alton Park, the HOPE VI housing site across the street from the store.
Until the store got produce, she paid a $7 cab fare for a round trip to the nearest Bi-Lo. Now she can spend that money on produce at Southside Market.
“Instead of getting some noodles when you can’t get to the Bi-Lo you can go over there and buy some corn,” Porter said. “You can buy cabbage. You can buy oranges. You can buy apples, where that hasn’t been available to us in the neighborhood.”
Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yput man@timesfreepress.com or 757-6431.